Recognitions and celebrations of the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Hussein Obama were recorded throughout the world on January 20, 2009.

"Residents of the coastal Colombian city Turbaco, comprised mostly of people from Afro-Colombian descent, rang in the inauguration of American President Barack Obama Tuesday with fireworks, street theater and Caribbean themed music," Bryon Wells writes in the Colombia Reports' article "Turbaco celebrates Obama inauguration."

"The celebration was an affirmation for the residents of Turbaco, who overwhelmingly voted in November through mock elections to show solidarity with Obama..."

Reports from various journalists in the article "Obama Inauguration Scenes From Around The World" demonstrate the feelings of hope and pride many have demonstrated because of Obama's election.

"Blacks face so much discrimination here," the journalist Bradley Brooks quotes Alex Andrade, an unemployed Black Brazilian as stating. "Now with a Black man in charge of such an important country, it might help decrease the racism in Brazil," the 24-year-old said. "I never thought I'd see a Black man with so much power. It is giving hope to all the people who live here."

While Vivian Sequera notes that Afro-Colombian sugarcane cutters in Puerto Tejada were given Tuesday off and "watched Barack Obama's inauguration on a giant TV screen and celebrated with dancing and singing.

" 'The people here see themselves represented in Obama,' Mayor Elver Montano said. 'President Barack Obama could us help a lot, promote dialogue, give resources and money to help improve people's livelihood.' "

Will Obama support Durban Review?
By Karen Juanita Carrillo

With the much-anticipated exit of President George W. Bush and the even greater awaited entrance of President-elect Barack Obama to the White House this month, millions are expecting to see federal policy changes that will spur the United States’ economy.

But beyond the changes needed in-country, many people are expecting the Obama administration to help reposition U.S. foreign policy – in particular, the way it addresses developing nations.  And one upcoming event that Obama’s administration could make a significant appearance at is the Durban Review Conference (DRC/ www.un.org/durbanreview2009/), the follow-up to the United Nation’s World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance (WCAR; www.un.org/WCAR), due to take place in Geneva, Switzerland April 20-24, 2009.

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